Bono to Attend Ottawa Concert for World Suicide Prevention Day

Get your tickets now and don’t let the stigma that surrounds “suicide” keep you from attending “A Celebration of World Suicide Prevention Day”. This concert is presented by Livin gWorks Education Inc. on Saturday, September 10, at Ottawa’s CentrePointe Theatre, and features three-time Juno Award winner Susan Aglukark and Irish rock band Friends of Emmet.

The evening will benefit suicide prevention programs in Ottawa and area, the Collateral Damage Project, and support The Arctic Children and Youth Foundation, chaired by Susan Aglukark. Keith Geraghty, bass player of Friends of Emmet and passionate suicide prevention advocate, said: “This is going to be a very exciting evening for suicide prevention, as we will also be joined by Music Artist & Activist – Bono of U2, Actor Colin Farrell and Director Jim Sheridan at the concert on September 10th at the CentrePointe Theatre.” Scott Chisholm, Founder and CEO of the Collateral Damage Project, states: “We need to create an open and proactive dialogue on suicide to get rid of the stigma that surrounds it.” Chisholm further states: “This event is the first of its kind in Canada, and perhaps around the world, as it brings Ottawa together in creating a suicide safer community.” Also in attendance will be Denise Batters and Alex Baumann, CEO of Own the Podium, who are members of the Collateral Damage Project advisory team and have each also lost loved ones to suicide. Baumann states: “We need to show strong community and national leadership by being a part of breaking the stigma of suicide.”

Denise Batters lost her husband, former Member of Parliament Dave Batters, to suicide after a struggle with severe anxiety and depression. Denise Batters states: “I have taken a cue from Dave in openly discussing mental illness and suicide. I strongly encourage Ottawa residents to make a proactive stand for suicide prevention and join us on September 10th.”

The list of community and national partners with this event also includes: Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention CASP), the Ottawa Suicide Prevention Coalition and Your Life Counts International. Tickets are still available at the Centrepointe Theatre Online Box Office at: http://www.centrepointetheatre.com/events_tickets/ or by calling (613) 580-2700.